1. What is a Solar Power Calculator?

Definition: This calculator estimates the solar panel wattage needed based on your energy requirements, available sunlight, and system performance.

Purpose: It helps homeowners and businesses determine how much solar capacity they need for their energy needs.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

Where:

• \( P \) — Solar power needed (watts)
• \( Load \) — Energy required (watt-hours)
• \( H \) — Sunlight hours per day
• \( PR \) — Performance ratio (system efficiency)

Explanation: The energy requirement is divided by the product of sunlight hours and performance ratio to determine the solar panel capacity needed.

3. Importance of Solar Power Calculation

Details: Proper solar sizing ensures your system meets energy needs, maximizes efficiency, and provides cost-effective solutions.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter your daily energy needs in watt-hours, average sunlight hours (default 5), and performance ratio (default 0.75). All values must be > 0.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: How do I find my energy requirement (Load)?
A: Check your electricity bills for daily kWh usage (multiply by 1000 to get Wh) or sum the wattage of all devices you'll power.

Q2: What's a typical performance ratio?
A: Most systems have a PR between 0.7-0.8, accounting for losses from temperature, wiring, inverters, etc.

Q3: How many sunlight hours should I use?
A: Use your location's average peak sun hours (typically 3-6 hours in most regions).

Q4: Does this include battery storage?
A: No, this calculates panel needs. For battery sizing, you'll need to consider days of autonomy.

Q5: Should I add a safety margin?
A: Yes, consider adding 10-20% to account for panel degradation over time and unexpected usage increases.